Gretchen Wilson Gets High School Graduation Party

6/4/2008 Katie Ball Gretchen Wilson’s friends in the Country Music business threw a party Monday to celebrate something most people take for granted. Wilson received her high school diploma last month through the Wilson County (just outside Nashville) adult education program, after having dropped out of school after eighth grade. The party was thrown in Nashville at the main office of Sony BMG, according to CMT.com.  Charlie Daniels, Wilson’s good friend spoke at her graduation May 15 in Lebanon, TN. Bernadine Wilson, director of the Wilson County adult learning center, spoke at the party about how driven Gretchen Wilson had been in getting her studies done. Now that she has a diploma, Wilson is able to homeschool her daughter Grace through the sixth grade. With a college degree, she would be able to teach her through high school, but Wilson has no plans to pursue that currently.   Montgomery Gentry, Wilson’s labelmates, were also in attendance at the party. They represent the University of Phoenix and have been chosen to give out twelve scholarships to students. The band gave Wilson one in order to benefit the foundation she created.   Wilson will be appearing at the CMA Music Festival this weekend. Wilson has attended the festival every year since 2004, when the release of “Redneck Woman” brought her to the attention of Country Music fans everywhere.